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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Swintonia schwenkii Trade Name Boilam Family Name Anacardiaceae Common Names Boilam, Boilsur, Merpauh, Merpauh periang, Pitoh, Sambung, Samginphroo, Selan, Shibika, Thayetkin, Thayetsan Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand Common Uses Heavy construction, Light construction, Matches Heartwood Color Green/grey Red Pink Red Greenish to greyish Brown Sapwood Color Paler than heartwood Grain Figure Interlocked Distinct (figure) Rays (figure) Stripe (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Striped figure Rays figure Texture Fine Medium Medium to coarse Coarse Medium Luster Pronounced Lustrous Natural Durability Durable Resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Non durable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Durable Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Splitting Checking Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Expect severe spring and bow degrade Ease of Drying Variable Slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is severe Boring Difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to nail Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Moderate working qualities Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Poor results Difficult to turn Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7178 11247 psi Density 47 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1658 lbs Impact Strength 28 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Shearing Strength 1763 psi Stiffness 1665 1923 1000 psi Weight 46 37 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 4 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 504 790 kg/cm2 Density 753 kg/m3 Hardness 752 kg Impact Strength 71 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 123 kg/cm2 Stiffness 117 135 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 737 592 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 4 South East Asia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Burgess, P.F.,1966,Timbers of Sabah,Sabah Forest Record, no.6 Gamble, J.S.,1902,A Manual of Indian Timbers,Sampson Low, Marston & Co. London Lee, Y.H., et al,1974,Commercial Timbers of Peninsular Malaysia,Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Department of Forestry Peninsular Malaysia and,Malaysian Timber Industry Board Lee, Y.H., Lopez, D.T.,1968,The Machining Properties of some Malayan Timbers,Malayan Forester,3,pp194-210 Lee, Y.H.,1965,Timber tests - merpauh (Swintonia spp.,Malayan Forester 28(1) pp56-62 Menon, P.K.B.,1959,The wood anatomy of Malayan timbers: commercial timbers, 3. Light,hardwoods,Malaysian Forest Research Institute Kepong, Research Pamplet, No. 27. Ng, F.S.P. (Ed,1989,Tree Flora of Malaya A Manual for Foresters Volume 4,Forest Research Institute Malaysia Ministry of Primary Industries Wyatt-Smith, J.,1979,Pocket Checklist of Timber Trees,Malayan Forest Records No.17